preaching, or serving the cure, and to withdraw 1662. from their parishes immediately: and the military men that lay in the country were ordered to pull them out of their pulpits, if they should presume to go on in their functions. This was opposed only by duke Hamilton, and sir James Lockhart, father to sir William Lockhart. They represented, that the much greater part of the preachers in these counties had come into their churches since the year 1649; that they were very popular men, both esteemed and beloved of their people: it would be a great scandal, if they should be turned out, and none be ready to be put in their places: and it would not be possible to find a competent number of well qualified men, to fill the many vacancies that this proclamation would make. The earl of Midletoun would hear of nothing, but the immediate execution of the law. So the proclamation was issued out: and upon it above two hundred churches were shut up in one day and above one hundred and fifty more were to be turned out for not obeying, and submitting to the bishops summons to their synods. All this was done without considering the consequence of it, or communicating it to the other bishops. Sharp said to my self, that he knew nothing of it; nor did he imagine, that so rash a thing could have been done, till he saw it in print. He was glad that this was done without his having any share in it: for by it he was furnished with somewhat, in which he was no way concerned, upon which he might cast all the 155 blame of all that followed. Yet this was suitable enough to a maxim that he and all that sort of people set up, that the execution of laws was that by which all governments maintained their strength, as 1662. well as their honours. The earl of Midletoun was surprised at this extraordinary submission of the presbyterians. He had fancied, that the greatest part would have complied, and that some of the more intractable would have done some extraordinary thing, to have justified the severities he would have exercised in that case; and was disappointed both ways. Yet this obedience of a party, so little accustomed to it, was much magnified at court. It was said, that all plied before him: they knew he was steady: so they saw how necessary it was not to change the management, if it was really intended to preserve the church. Lord Tarbot told me, that the king had expressed to himself the esteem he had for Sheldon, upon the account of the courage that he shewed in the debate concerning the execution of the act of uniformity at the day prefixed, which was St. Bartholomew's: for some suggested the danger that might arise, if the act were vigorously executed. From thence, it seems, the earl of Midletoun concluded, the zeal he shewed now would be so acceptable, that all former errors would be forgiven, if he went through with it; as indeed he stuck at nothing. Yet the clamour of putting several counties, as it were, under an interdict, was very great. So all endeavours were used to get as many as could be had to fill those vacancies. among others, I was much pressed both by the earl of Glencairn and the lord Tarbot, to go into any of the vacant churches that I liked. I was then but nineteen yet there is no law in Scotland limiting the age of a priest. And it was upon this account g Dunce, can there be a better maxim? S. A good maxim And it was, and great pity it was not better followed. Cole. that I was let so far into the secret of all affairs: 1662. for they had such an imagination of some service I might do them, that they treated me with a very particular freedom and confidence. But I had drunk in the principles of moderation so early, that, though I was entirely episcopal, yet I would not engage with a body of men, that seemed to have the principles and tempers of inquisitors in them, and to have no regard to religion in any of their proceedings h. So I stood upon my youth, and could not be wrought on to go to the west; though the earl of Glencairn offered to carry me with him under his protection. There was a sort of an invitation sent over the kingdom, like a hue and cry, to all persons to accept of benefices in the west. The livings were generally well endowed, and the parsonage houses were well built, and in good repair: and this drew many very worthless persons thither, who had little learning, 156 less piety, and no sort of discretion. They came thither with great prejudices against them, and had many difficulties to wrestle with. The former in- A general cumbents, who were for the most part protestors, them. were a grave, solemn sort of people. Their spirits were eager, and their tempers sour: but they had an appearance that created respect. They were re h It is a little surprising that a youth of nineteen should have been let into the secret of all affairs. No doubt the great moderation, and zeal for episcopacy, which he mentions with a singular degree of modesty, which appeared early in him, and continued to his dying day, must have been the inducements: besides a notable faculty he had in keeping a se- character of 1662. lated to the chief families in the country, either by blood or marriage; and had lived in so decent a manner, that the gentry paid great respect to them. They used to visit their parishes much, and were so full of the scriptures, and so ready at extempore prayer, that from that they grew to practise extempore sermons: for the custom in Scotland was after dinner or supper to read a chapter in the scripture: and where they happened to come, if it was acceptable, they on the sudden expounded the chapter. They had brought the people to such a degree of knowledge, that cottagers and servants would have prayed extempore. I have often overheard them at it: and, though there was a large mixture of odd stuff, yet I have been astonished to hear how copious and ready they were in it. Their ministers generally brought them about them on the Sunday nights, where the sermons were talked over; and every one, women as well as men, were desired to speak their sense and their experience: and by these means they had a comprehension of matters of religion, greater than I have seen among people of that sort any where. The preachers went all in one track, of raising observations on points of doctrine out of their text, and proving these by reasons, and then of applying those, and shewing the use that was to be made of such a point of doctrine, both for instruction and terror, for exhortation and comfort, for trial of themselves upon it, and for furnishing them with proper directions and helps: and this was so methodical, that the people grew to follow a sermon quite through every branch of it. To this some added, the resolving of doubts concerning the state they were in, or their progress or decay in it; which they called cases of conscience: and these 1662. were taken from what their people said to them at any time, very oft being under fits of melancholy, or vapours, or obstructions, which, though they flowed from natural causes, were looked on as the work of the Spirit of God, and a particular exercise to them; and they fed this disease of weak minds too much. Thus they had laboured very diligently, though with a wrong method and wrong notions. But as they lived in great familiarity with their people, and used to pray and to talk oft with them in private, so it can hardly be imagined to what a degree they were loved and reverenced by them. They kept scandal-157 ous persons under a severe discipline: for breach of sabbath, for an oath, or the least disorder in drunkenness, persons were cited before the church session, that consisted of ten or twelve of the chief of the parish, who with the minister had this care upon them, and were solemnly reproved for it: for fornication they were not only reproved before these, but there was a high place in the church, called the stool or pillar of repentance, where they sat at the times of worship for three Lord's-days, receiving admonitions, and making profession of repentance on all those days; which some did with many tears, and serious exhortations to all the rest, to take warning by their fall. For adultery they were to i This puts me in mind of a ridiculous story duke Hamilton told me of the old earl of Eglington, who had done penance for fornication, and the fourth Lord's day came, and set there again, which the minister perceiving, called to him to come down, for his penance was 66 66 |